Georgia Judge Tosses Murder Charge Against Teen Football Player in Fatal Shooting

AUGUSTA, GA - A judge dismissed a warrant charging a 16-year-old high school football player with murder. In a preliminary hearing on Thursday, September 11, a judge said that there was not enough probable cause to charge Vincent Carter Jr. with murder in the death of 14-year-old Deandre Howell.

Carter's attorney, Keith Johnson, claims that Howell was the aggressor and that Carter was struck first, WSBTV reported. Now, the high school football player will be home for his 17th birthday, according to Johnson. His client has reportedly been on "23 hours of lockdown over the last few months."

Ahead of the hearing, Johnson had been gearing up for a two-to-three-year process to clear his client, rather than such a quick resolution. "He's not guilty; he was defending himself," Johnson said. "He was the true victim after being shot three times," Johnson added. He also said that the young boy had to fight off gang members while in custody.

The shooting, which killed Howell and injured three others as young as 12, was the result of violence that broke out in the parking lot of an Advance Auto Parts store. The Richmond County Coroner's Office said that Howell was pronounced dead at the scene, according to WRDW. Deputies arrested Carter, who was hospitalized after the incident, and 18-year-old Nametrius McClam, who was also charged with murder.

Many local business owners and nearby homeowners said that they had seen the group of kids involved selling water and Gatorade in the hot summer months at the intersection where the shooting took place. Two victims were shot at Advance Auto Parts, while two others were shot at a nearby Texaco.

A car was also shot and pulled over in another parking lot, one deputy said. In addition to Carter, another 16-year-old and a 12-year-old were injured in the shooting incident. 

After the shooting, many in the area said that there had not been a violent event in the area in some time. Multiple people said that they feel safe in the neighborhood, which only added to the shock when they found out the loud popping they heard was gunshots. "I thought it was fireworks," neighbor Johnny Elmore said.

Many neighbors also had strong opinions regarding how to prevent an event like this from happening again in their area in the future. One neighbor said she hopes Sheriff Eugene Brantley's new plans about curfews for juveniles will help keep young people off the street. Another neighbor encouraged the youth to put their guns down, adding, "Guns won't solve anything."

"This heartbreaking tragedy is yet another reminder of how critical it is that we know where our children are, who they're with, and what they're involved in," Sheriff Brantley said. "As parents, guardians, mentors, and community leaders, we have a responsibility to guide our youth away from violence and toward brighter futures."

"We must be willing to have those tough conversations about consequences, about the value of life, and about the dangers that can come from one wrong decision," he added. "My team and I are committed to doing our part by investigating this thoroughly and holding everyone involved accountable."